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Clays specialises in the manufacture of monochrome books, reacting quickly to
IMPRINT OF THE YEAR AVON
THE SHORTLIST
WINNER HARPERCOLLINS
HIGHLY COMMENDED
PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE CHILDRENS
PAN MACMILLAN
PRH
Electric Monkey EGMONT
Hamish Hamilton PRH
Piatkus HACHETTE
PAN MACMILLAN
Zaffre BONNIER BOOKS UK
S
et up by HarperCollins back in 2007, Avon has been a consistent rather than spectacular performer in commercial fiction, though it has
been shortlisted for Imprint of the Year twice since its launch. But last year saw it firing on all cylinders, with its small, dynamic team achieving strong growth right across its publishing. C L Taylor’s Sleep was its standout hit in the
TCM, but success with Mandy Robotham and Lorna Cook showed how quickly it turns little- known names into brands. While supermarkets remain its heartland, it ramped-up its digital publishing too, and brought audio closer into the fold. Beyond the UK, rights sales doubled and exports grew by a third. There was some good work on social mobility as well, with an open submissions policy and a partnership with the Big Issue to find a new crime writer, both helping to cast its net beyond the London bubble.
29 Avon clearly commands huge respect among
authors and agents, who admire its blend of a boutique approach to publishing with powerful sales and marketing resources. “It’s ambitious and innovative, publishes with passion and commit- ment, and improves on sales and promotion with every book,” said one agent. The judges also applauded its commercial hit rate and energy: “For a small team, it’s had great success.”
HIGHLY COMMENDED in this category is Ladybird at PRH Children’s. Now in its second century, it is one of the most revered lists in children’s publishing, but apps, audio, YouTube and social media activity showed it remains one of the most forward-thinking. Sales jumped at its relaunched trade list and licensing powerhouse, and it did good work on literacy and diversity. “There was joined-up, imaginative thinking and impressive growth across the list,” said the judges.
AVON PUBLISHING DIRECTOR HELEN HUTHWAITE HAS
OVERSEEN THE IMPRINTS RECENT PURPLE PATCH
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